Indie Rock Punk Shows

TRG, Public Pool, King Sheim exude joy at The Crocodile

December 12, 2019: The Crocodile Back Bar

TRG, Public Pool, King Sheim exude joy at The Crocodile December 17, 20191 Comment
King Sheim performs at 2019’s Sound Off! competition in MoPop’s Sky Church. // Photo by Peter Cozens

When King Sheim took the stage Thursday night at The Crocodile, the compact Back Bar was already packed, fans pressing in close to the band. King Sheim’s powerful stage presence drew focused attention even from the back of the room. King Sheim is a punk rock band, but their willingness to be playful and incorporate other styles sets them apart. The band members bring their real identities to the stage, not just a persona. 

Lead vocalist and guitarist Celeste Felsheim holds impressive versatility both in her on-stage personality and in her musical style. From more aggressive, classic punk songs like “Hell of a Deal” to more vulnerable tracks like “Queen of The Losers,” Felsheim never allowed her focus and infectious energy to dip. She had fun — smiling to herself as she sang — but throughout the set maintained dedicated attention and enthusiasm to the music. 

Guitarist Sadie Bernard and drummer Eli Bolan were similarly dynamic, and I couldn’t keep my eyes off bass player Luke Sorensen, who continually thrashed his shoulder-length blond hair wildly as he played. As King Sheim exited, they were met with an enthusiastic wave of audience members rushing in to offer their compliments. Sorensen, especially, received heaps of praise.

Indie-rock band Public Pool, who originally hail from Boston, played the second set. The band members exuded a relaxed confidence as they set up, chatting with each other and a few friends in the front row. They had the sense of a group whose chemistry extends beyond the music — a characteristic that lent their set a synchrony and cheerfulness that made for an exceptional performance. Vocalist and guitarist Jack O’Brien was flanked by Linden Crumrine on bass and Zac Hartwell on guitar and vocals, with Paul Rhoads on drums.

Throughout the set, as O’Brien turned to his left and right, making eye contact with Crumrine and Hartwell, their pure enjoyment of playing together became palpable. Behind them, Rhoads sang along enthusiastically with total absorption in the music, at times the most animated band member, mouthing the words with a look of total joy.

The band’s set included “Slip Your Mind” — a single released the day of the show — a track backed by mesmerizing, looping guitar that showcases the best of Public Pool’s summery style and the competent and complementary vocal styles of O’Brien and Hartwell. The sunny, almost tropical vibes of Public Pool provide a welcome shining point in an indie rock scene dominated by shoegaze and sadcore.  

The night’s headliner was Timothy Robert Graham, which featured Timothy Graham on guitar and vocals; Gabe Molinaro on bass, synth keys, and vocals; and Michael Knight on drums. The band delivered a well-rounded setlist of the highlights from the band’s latest album, 2018’s Speak, filled out with some covers, including David Bowie’s “Life On Mars?,” and an unreleased single due out in February. Though the music had a dreamier quality than the previous two acts, the entire band exhibited excellent attention to detail and instrumental precision. Molinaro’s synth and airy backing vocals provided ambient contrast to Graham’s crisper musical style.  

Graham, also a very skilled guitarist, never missed a beat with his exact plucking and strumming, and his vocals maintained a relaxed competence even through the more involved instrumental sections. Molinaro’s key playing had a similar quality as he marched sharply in place, keeping time as he played. Knight matched the precision of the other two and created a shimmering audio effect with his ride cymbal. Their closing track, “I Won’t Let Go,” was a chill, swaying song that closed out their set and the evening on a satisfyingly tranquil note.

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